Nine Treasures out on first American tour
Chinese Mongolian folk metal band Nine Treasures are out on their first U.S. tour opening for Mushroomhead and Fear Factoy.
They will be hitting the stage tonight in Flint at The Machine Shop and played last night in Cadillac at the Venue Event Center.
With their distinctive fusion of traditional Mongolian music and modern heavy metal, the band is bringing something different to their Western audience.
This week Rock Life had a chance to talk to Nine Treasures' vocalist/guitarist Askhan.
Rock Life: Where are you at tonight?
Askhan: We’re in Hobart [Indiana] tonight.
RL: And you’ll be out my way in Michigan for a couple of shows this week. You’re going to love The Machine Shop.
A: Yeah, that’s awesome!
RL: How has the tour been going so far?
A: It’s great! We’ve already finished half of it. We’ve met a lot of new and old fans. It’s pretty awesome.
RL: And what’s been the biggest thing you’ve learned being out on the road with two well-established acts?
A: We’ve learned a lot so far. Just during the soundcheck and during the show and also after the show. From every angle they are doing a really great job and putting a lot of effort into their shows. It’s really inspiring.
RL: Your latest album Seeking the Absolute came out last year on Metal Blade Records. Have you seen the crowds responding to the newer music and is there a track you are enjoying performing the most?
A: Well we are singing in A different language so no-one is really singing along, but we’ve gotten good feedback. We chose two songs from the new album to play every night. Mostly we are playing songs from the older albums since it’s our first U.S. tour and a lot of our fans have been listening to us over many years and they want those old songs.
RL: Many bands are overwhelmed on their first tour, but you guys have been playing to massive festival crowds for a long time. What’s been the biggest difference in the crowds for you?
A: The difference is that the American audience is more focused. They’re focusing on the instruments going on and the structure of the songs and it’s really interesting. Back in our homeland there is not many older people who come out to our shows, it’s mostly younger people, but here in America there is every age of people enjoying the music. It’s really good.
RL: And why was this the right time to tour America?
A: We’ve been dreaming about touring in America for many years actually, but for a band from a very small town it’s really hard to do. But it came together this time and here we are now: we made it! We’re really proud of ourselves.
RL: And is there a date on this tour that you were most looking forward to?
A: Every date has been amazing to us. We’re enjoying every single one of them. It’s a really good experience to be able to travel in America and see all of the different people and different places. It’s awesome.
RL: And for those coming out to the shows, what can they expect from your set?
A: Well, we add to heavy metal our own formulas and our traditional instruments. And just the way we write is a bit different than the Western bands. I think it will give fans a fresh new angle to look at and how different metal music can be all over the world.
RL: And what is your writing process?
A: As a band we’ve always learned and tried new things and techniques and writing styles. At the beginning we were writing the melody and the lyrics first and building everything around it, but this last time we wrote the instrument parts first and put the singing at the very last part. It’s a bit challenging, but luckily we always get it done.
RL: And has signing with Metal Blade grown that world fan-base?
A: Oh yeah! We couldn’t do many things without them. They’re doing a really great job on the marketing and on our social media and everything they have done to put a lot of focus on us. Yeah, it’s really great that there is no more DIY stuff. It was like that for 15 years!
RL: And you’ve got some cool music videos out now, do you think about imagery when you’re writing?
A: Yeah, I’m thinking about the video thing a lot lately, especially now that we’re working with our full American team behind us. Every time I have a new idea or a song, I will fully dig into it and find anything that sparkles within it.
RL: And what is your biggest goal looking ahead?
A: Just to keep writing new songs and find any opportunities we can to play overseas and in North America. Next time the West Coast. And also just staying healthy.
RL: And when can we expect new music?
A: Actually, we’ve been working on a new single and we’re mixing it right now. It’ll probably be out in early 2027. We’re really looking forward to that because this time we tried even more different stuff. We turned down our guitars and it got a little bit lower and a little bit heavier. We’re really excited to put it out.
RL: How did you get started as a band?
A: We formed in 2010 and at that time I had just finished my college and I went to Beijing for work and met our bass player Orgil, We drank a lot together. [laughing] He was a guitarist for another band who had already gotten some attention in Beijing’s underground music scene. I was begging him to help us find the right bass player and then after a few drinks we just started to realize that yes, he was a good guitar player, but he was also a great bass player. So I asked him if he could play bass and he said why not! Yeah, so that was the beginning of the story.
RL: What is the music scene in Beijing like?
A: It’s still growing, but it’s actually pretty awesome. When we first started around 2010 it was a very small scene. Then over the years many younger bands came out and a lot of the venues were getting more professional and the audience was getting bigger and bigger.
RL: And is there a particular artist or band you’d like to tour with in the future?
A: That’s really hard to say! Maybe Tool.
RL: And what do you want to say to the people coming out to the shows?
A: I hope people can have fun during our set. We put a lot of interesting elements into our music and it’s a fun experience. And there is something I want to share with them. It’s actually a famous Chinese message heard all over the world: I want everyone to get rich!
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